# Saint Augustine Grass (*stenotaphrum secundatum*)

Saint Augustine Grass is a lush, green grass that feels soft and nice under your feet! It loves warm weather and is perfect for playing in the backyard.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Habitat:** It commonly grows in warm, coastal areas and sunny backyards.
- **Also known as:** Augusta Grass, Carpet Grass

![Saint Augustine Grass](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Staugustinegrass.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Stickpen, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Staugustinegrass.JPG)

## Appearance

The Saint Augustine Grass has wide, flat, soft blades that form a dense, carpet-like mat, typically appearing a lush green to bluish-green. Its blades have a rounded tip, helping it stand out from other common turf grasses. It grows low to the ground, spreading horizontally.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Poaceae
- **Genus:** Stenotaphrum

## Interesting facts

- If you let it grow tall, its unique seed heads look like tiny, slender green fingers popping up from the blades!
- It's a 'warm-season' grass, meaning it loves hot weather and grows best when it's sunny and toasty!
- Its dense growth helps it act like a natural weed-blocker, crowding out unwanted plants in your lawn.
- This grass arrived in the U.S. from places like Africa, growing wild before becoming a popular lawn choice!

## Special abilities

- **Rapid Runner:** Saint Augustine Grass can spread quickly using above-ground stems called stolons that help it cover large areas fast.
- **Salt Shield:** This grass has special adaptations to tolerate salty air and soil, making it perfect for coastal environments.
- **Shade Seeker:** Saint Augustine Grass can grow well in partly shady spots where many other lawn grasses struggle to thrive.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-20 cm
- **Spread:** 30-90 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Southern Chinch Bug (*Blissus insularis*) — a common pest that feeds on its sap.
- **Eaten by:** Fall Armyworm (*Spodoptera frugiperda*) — larvae chew on grass blades and stems.
- **Eaten by:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — grazes on its abundant foliage in pastures.
- **Shelter:** Green Anole (*Anolis carolinensis*) — hides within its dense blades from predators.

## Traits

- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Saint Augustine Grass?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Saint Augustine Grass?

10-20 cm

### How wide does Saint Augustine Grass spread?

30-90 cm

### How big are the flowers on Saint Augustine Grass?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does Saint Augustine Grass bloom?

Summer to fall

### Is Saint Augustine Grass edible?

No

### Is Saint Augustine Grass toxic?

None

### What is Saint Augustine Grass's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Cherry Tree Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cherry-tree-park) — Florida, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Saint Augustine Grass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/saint-augustine-grass)